Services Overview

KETAMINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY

I offer Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy for people looking to work with non-ordinary states of consciousness and who meet criteria to work with this medicine. You will have a separate medical evaluation with a physician to make sure ketamine is right for you.
I combine traditional psychoanalytic theories such as object relations and attachment theory with somatic awareness. As a longtime practitioner and teacher of yoga and mindfulness meditation, I often incorporate these teachings as well as lessons from sacred plant wisdom.

INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOTHERAPY

You may benefit from seeing me if you struggle with anxiety, depression, insomnia, relationship and identity issues, or if you are suffering through grief and loss. I have significant experience working with female identified people during fertility, pregnancy, and the postpartum setting, as well as with parents who have lost a child or experienced a loss at any stage of pregnancy.

I am experienced working with all ages, races, genders, and sexual orientations (LGBTQIA).

PLANT SPIRIT/SOCIAL DIETA

“A dieta is a way to concentrate, refine and purify personal energies—to achieve mastery over all actions, thoughts and words, to refine one’s life essence until it becomes piercing and true…in the framework of traditional Amazonian medicine adhering to a dieta primarily carries the goal of preparing oneself to commune with spiritual energies.” Jonathan Miller Weisberger

Vegetalismo, the practice of working with plants in the healing tradition of Amazonian mestizo medicine, is a profound lineage practice. When people would like to work with non-psychoactive plant medicine as an adjunct to support their psychotherapy, this practice is an excellent container for personal exploration, growth and change.

After completing a multi-year apprenticeship with Francisca Santibanez, Melissa was invited to facilitate plant spirit initiations/social dietas for others. She has completed dietas with lemon balm, tobacco, rose, guayusa, la planta de vida, rosemary, tulsi and pscilocybin. She has also completed master plant dietas in the Peruvian Amazon with bobinsana, chuchuwasi, clavohuasca and cumaseba. Melissa is extremely grateful for every opportunity to work with plant teachers and their human guardians.

If you would like to learn more, please reach out for a consultation to see whether this practice could support you.

MEDITATIONS

Melissa has studied and practiced Vipassana, or Mindfulness, Meditation for over two decades. Current research demonstrates that meditation can help us reduce stress, pain and suffering, and also increase capacity for joy and pleasure. Some studies have discussed how Mindfulness Meditation can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. As a clinician, Melissa often uses aspects of Mindfulness Meditation to help clients cope with moment-to-moment feelings that can be overwhelming.

Here are some simple, introductory guided meditation practices to help you develop your own daily practice.

YOGA

Melissa Whippo has been practicing yoga for over two decades, and currently practices Ashtanga at atha . A lifelong dancer, she has been teaching movement since her early teens.